Relocate to Niger Delta or quit, Ijaw group tells IOCs

15 May 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – A group known as Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, has warned international oil companies, IOCs, refusing to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta, despite a presidential order to that effect since last year, to quit the region.

The group also said it was appalling that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration cannot enforce compliance of its directive given to the oil multinationals.

A statement by the National President of the group, Mr. Austin Ozobo, lamented failure of IOCs operating in Niger Delta to move their operational headquarters to the region despite the Federal government order.

Ozobo, who wondered if the Buhari government has become a puppet in the hands of oil multinational companies operating in the country, said peace will elude Nigeria unless the Niger Delta is given its due place in the country.

He alleged that the current government lacked the political will to proffer sanctions on defaulting oil companies in the country.

According to the statement, “It is our warning that oil multinational companies refusing to relocate their operational headquarters to the Niger Delta should quit or vacate the region.

“It is provocative and absurd for oil companies operating in the region to undermine the clarion calls of stakeholders to relocate to the region.

“It has become imperative to note that our environment is being polluted and degraded daily.

“Our ecology system has been damaged, we inhale hydrocarbon particles and emissions emanating from gas flaring, uncompleted combustion, and other oil activities, but no justice is done to ameliorate it.”